Chamber announces First Citizen recipient.

Byline: The Register-Guard

The Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce has named businessman Don Tykeson the 2005 First Citizen.

Chamber officials described Tykeson as a pioneer in the communications industry and said his career "has been defined by his remarkable balancing of business with advocacy and philanthropy and his outstanding contributions to the community's well- being."

The chamber has presented the First Citizen award annually since 1938. Tykeson is the 58th recipient.

Tykeson, who graduated from the University of Oregon in 1951, acquired an interest in KEZI television in 1963, when it was a small, start-up company. It became the base for his Liberty Communications, one of the top 20 cable operators in the country, according to the chamber.

After selling that company in 1983, Tykeson acquired control of Northwest Television, whose operations include KVAL-TV in Eugene and KCBY in Coos Bay. He also acquired Telecomm Systems and expanded it. He later sold both companies and is currently the managing partner of Tykeson Associates/Enterprises and an owner of BendBroadband.

Tykeson served as founding director of C-Span and president of the Oregon Cable Television Association.

Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1957, Tykeson served as a national board member and Western-area vice chairman of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Tykeson has been active on many committees and boards in the community, including the University of Oregon's Investment Committee and the Sacred Heart Medical Center Foundation. He is trustee of the Tykeson Family Charitable Trust, which funds health care and medical research, education and art initiatives, and children's programming.

Tykeson will receive the award at the chamber's Celebration of Business event on Jan. 25. Tickets are available at www.eugenechamber .com or by calling 484-1314.